I had a responsibility: to protect Dainu. That has gone done the drain. I had lost not only my best friend, but the trust Dainu had on me. Even though he's very open to forgiveness, I don't think there will be an inch of forgiveness in him for what has happened.

I had no idea where they were taking my mom and me; they blindfolded us and put us in a car -- or was it a truck -- and were taken somewhere outside of town. They told us that we had to wear it, because of their base, or whatever it was, was "top secret." Mom held me close the whole time; she was more afraid than I was. I had to be brave for her.

After about an hour of driving, they took us out of the vehicle and held our arms to guide us in their direction they were taking us. They took off our blindfolds and we found ourselves in a big, empty room with a long rectangular table with chairs in the center. There were no windows or air vents in the room at all. There were two cameras in two corners on the wall parallel from each other and a small TV at the end of the table. This looks like some kind of a conference room.

The large metal door clicked loudly and slowly swung open. Dean entered the room, followed by another man in a military uniform. He was much taller and older than Dean, and he had more muscle on him. His face was a little wrinkly at the cease of his mouth, frown lines on his forehead; thick, brown eyebrows, and a broad chin and shoulders. On his uniform, he had a multitude of colorful badges on the left side of his chest. I knew right away that he was the general.

"Kaley, Mrs. Langstrom," Dean announced. "This is General Mustang. He's the head of this base. He's going to do some interviewing with your 'friend'."

I jumped out of my seat. "Where the heck is he?! What have you done with him?"

"He's in a guarded place, ma'am," said the general. "We'll keep him there until we're through with him."

"How long?" I asked.

"Until we're through with him," Dean repeatedly firmly.

"You people better not lay a finger on him," I scolded. "I don't want you military scumbags dissected him like he's some kind of lab rat. He's done nothing to you!"

"Not yet, at least," Dean said. "He might be harmless now, but he'll soon show his true colors. And we'll be able to stop him."

"We don't know much about him," Mustang said. "Not even you. You don't know what kind of mind he's planning up there. This highly intelligent being might've killed you and plan to attack this world next. You're lucky Dean here was around to stop it."

"You're wrong! Dainu's harmless; he doesn't want any of this. He hates violence. You're making the biggest judgmental mistake of your lives!"

"Dainu? Is that what you call him?" teased Dean. "I never knew you like naming your pet. You women are so blind by the 'cute and cuddly'."

I charged myself towards him, ignoring my mom's protest to stop. I threw my fist at him, but he stopped it. I winced when he started to squeeze my fist hard. He pushed me hard, and I almost stumbled onto the table.

"I don't have time for this childish nonsense," he said. "Let's go, general before our creature gets untamed." He looked at me when he said that. I knew he was referring it to me more than Dainu. They shut the door behind them, leaving us as their prisoners.

Mom looked at me with worried eyes. "Why is this happening, Kaley?"

I didn't answer.

"You've been lying to me all along, and you've put us in danger. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me what was going on?!"

"Because I didn't want you freaking out and tattle-telling on me," I snapped. "I didn't give in on the secret to you, because you couldn't handle the truth. Besides, you never believed me when I told you anyway. I warned you about Dean, but you never believed me, your own daughter."

Mom's eyes watered up. "Kaley, I'm so sorry. I never thought I was hurting you. It's just that you were going overboard with the alien talk and I got sick of it. I didn't know what to do or what to believe. And you were right, I was liking Dean too much because I was replacing him with your father. I still miss him, and I was way over my head. I've been selfish. I should've been a better mother to you. I wish this never happened."

"Me too," I said. "We've gotta find a way out of here."

"But how? There are cameras everywhere, and there's a guard standing by the door. How are we supposed to get out?"

An idea burst into my brain.

I got up and went to the metal door. As I opened it, a guard that was probably in his thirties stood in front of my way. I smiled friendly to look less suspicious and for him to gain my trust.

"Hi," I said to him, "I was wondering if it is OK if I use the lady's room?"

He looked at me funny. "Is it a real emergency?"

"Like, yeah," I said, but then I corrected myself. "I mean, yes. It's that time of the month if you know what I mean. And I really need to go, before I make a mess on myself."

He pursed his lips in discomfort. He let me out of the room, and I signaled my mom a quick thumbs up behind my back.

I followed the guard down the hallway. All the lights in the kept flickering on and off like they need some serious repair. The walls were made of solid cement. It was so thick that you couldn't hear what's going on in the other rooms. There weren't any screen windows or anything to see through to look at what they're doing. I guess that was the whole point since this was a top secret base and they had to keep everything so locked up and secret.

The guard pointed me to the girls' room. I thanked him and rushed into the bathroom.

My plan was working well so far.

I looked around the bathroom and checked underneath the stalls. The coast is clear. And thank goodness, there was an air vent just about my size. I bet you're thinking that this is the usual crawl-through-the-vents clique you only see in movies. You're right, but this isn't the movies, this is real, and my best friend was in real danger.

I climbed up on the sinks carefully so I wouldn't slip. Fortunately, the screws that were blotted in the walls to hold the vent weren't secure. They are already rusted and old, so it was easy for me to pull or unscrew them.

After I removed the screws, I carefully set the vent on the sink so I wouldn't make any noise. I pulled myself up and slid my body into the tunnel of the vent until my legs were inside and out of view.

I crawled very steadily because I didn't want to make too much noise that would get caught. I had to use my sense of hearing to follow anything that sounded like Dainu or Dean. It was dark, but the reflected light that creased through the metal tunnel gave me enough light to see where I was going.

The metallic tunnel was dead quiet, except for the bumping sound of my shoes. Then I heard a faint, muffled noise that sounded like someone pillow fighting. I followed that noise as it gradually increased. There was a light up ahead in my direction; I was getting near to another room. That was probably the room where they were keeping Dainu captive. The pillow-fighting noise started to sound more like a fist punching a face. I also heard grunting and groaning sounds. That must have been Dainu in pain.

I peeked through the sliders of the vent and saw Dainu sitting on a chair, completely bounded in chains. Dean and Mustang were there standing in front Dainu, and the other three soldiers were standing by the door with their weapons ready to shoot anytime. There was also another man standing at Dainu's side, carrying something that looked like a long metal rod.

"Please, stop," Dainu pleaded. "I have done nothing to you. I am no harm to your world."

"That's what they all say," said Dean. "Tell us what are you really here for?"

"I want to live in peace among you," answered Dainu.

Dean nodded once at the guy with the rod, and the guy swung his rod hard at Dainu's head. I almost gasped, so I held my hand tight over my mouth. I knew they would lay a finger on him, but I didn't know they would be that rough.

"This would've been quick if you'd cooperated," Dean told Dainu. "We wanted to be easy on you, but I guess that's the way things are. Now tell me again, why are you here? And don't make me repeat myself."

"Why?" Dainu asked wearily. "Why do you have such hate and aggression in your heart? Why do you harm me for what I am? I am a living creature like you. I will not tolerate genocide for my differences. My companions never neglected me, especially Kaley."

The guy's rod sparked up an electric wave at the tip. He poked the tip at Dainu, and Dainu screamed in frightening pain.

"For your information," Dean said, after the electric poke. "Kaley is not much of a 'companion' to you. She led me to you. She told me everything I needed to know. Your friend betrayed you."

"No, it is a lie. Deceitful words! Kaley is the only and true friend I have. I had applied my trust in her. She would never destroy my trust."

"Oh, I think you're mistaken, kid. You don't know us that well. That's why Kaley took you all over the town. To reveal who you are, and so we can find you and capture you. You are the one who was misguided. You are the fool, we are superior over you."

"You are wrong," Dainu said. "No one is superior over another kind. You are the fool. You are the one who commits sinful acts and vile chaos. You are the oppressor who is blinded by prejudice thoughts and accusations. I have done harmless acts and rightful doings among my visits on Earth. I am not sinner, not an oppressor, nor a dominator. If you want to speak of supreme, look up to the sky. What is more superior than that? You forget that you and I are created out of nothing but dust. Let not arrogance blind your heart with hate and cruelty."

Way to go, Dainu! You tell'em right!

Dean's face quickly reddened with aggravation after what Dainu said. He slapped him across the face hard. It made a piercing, clapping sound that made me flinch in fear. Dean, then, grabbed Dainu's chin to look at him eye to eye. He mumbled something to Dainu which I couldn't make out, but I had a feeling that it was probably something threatening.

Mustang laid his hand on Dean's shoulder and said, "I think it's time to take a break. He's not cooperating right now, so let's get back to him after an hour."

Dean nodded, released his rough hands on Dean, and followed the general out the door. The other three soldiers and the one with the taser rod left too. Dainu was finally alone in the room. Now was my chance to rescue the alien in distress.

"Dainu," I called him in a whisper.

He didn't respond to me or turn his head to look. Was he really mad at me? Was he so upset that he's going through another depression? Has he lost hope in me?

I tried pushing the vent so I can slip out and get Dainu, but it didn't budge. I tried banging it with my fist and my elbow, but that didn't help.

Suddenly, the vent mindlessly controlled itself, and pulled itself out of the wall and move out of my way.

"Thanks, Dainu. Good job," I compliment.

As I slipped my body out of the metallic tunnel, my legs daggled, looking for something to step on. My hands were of no use to me; they lost its firm grip and I clumsily fell to the floor. Yeah, it was pretty awkward.

I picked myself up on my feet and ran towards Dainu. I knelt down in front of him, his head hung low and I tried to look into his eyes for any signs of comfort, trust, or hate. Dainu picked up his head and looked at me. There was no sign of mistrust, hate, misery, or anger in his gazing eyes. There was only peace, comfort, and relief. A small smile emerged on his lips.

"I knew you would come for me," he said.

I nodded and managed to smile a little too. But then I bust out crying, covering my shameful face with my hands.

"I'm so sorry, Dainu," I sobbed. "This is all my fault! I should've never confessed to Dean, but I was weak. He was threatening me and I had no other choice. I tried to protect you, I tried to keep you hidden, but I failed. I was irresponsible and naive. And now, you'll never forgive me, because I betrayed you."

"No, Kaley," Dainu said, "I do forgive you."

I stopped myself from crying and looked up at him. "Huh? You do?" I said. "But I told Dean everything. I told him where you were. I betrayed your trust in me. I was pathetic—"

"Seize, Kaley," he interrupted. "I do not look at you as pathetic, or a betrayer, or a deceiver. To my eyes, you are always my trusted companion; you are my guide to freedom. You are still a young being; you made a mistake, and I have forgiven you for that. And I already knew it was not your fault. That man had bribed you to tell otherwise he would separate you from your mother forevermore, is it not?"

I wiped my eyes. "Yes, that's true. And I didn't want both you and my mom to be taken away from me. You two are my life, my only family. I could kill myself if I had lost you guys."

"That would be dreadful. I, too, would have not survived on your planet if it was not for your guidance and care."

I smiled even wider when he said that. I reached up and hugged his shoulders. "Thank you so much! You're the sweetest alien being I have ever met."

"You are most gracious, Kaley. But now, let us make haste if we want to flee from this torturous place."

"Right," I said, letting go. "Let's get gotta here. But I need to untie you first."

"There is no need for that, Kaley," said Dainu. He pulled his arms free from the chains without difficulty. His wrists weren't even bruised from the tightening of the chains.

My mouth dropped in disbelief. "What?!" I exclaimed. "You mean you could've untied yourself and escaped without my help? Why didn't you do that in the first place and come and find me?"

"If I unchained myself," he noted, "then it would draw extreme attention and chaos. I would have been brutally beaten by them if I unleashed my powers in front of them."

That made sense to me. I guess it was a good idea to hide his powers and escape when the time is right.

Dainu yanked off his metal collar that held around his neck and got out of his chair.

"Let's go get my mom and Kyle," I said.

"Precisely," he agreed.

Dainu teleported us out of the room and into the room where they kept my mom. She jumped wildly when we popped into the room. I don't blame her; she's not used to these kinds of things.

"Come on, Mom," I grabbed her hand. "We're bustin' outta here!"

"Is that—?" she asked, pointing at Dainu.

"Yeah, Mom, this is him. Come on, we don't have that much time," I babbled.

"But how are we going to escape when—"

"Hold on!" I ordered, and then WHOOSH....

We made it inside a basement, the deepest part of the base. It was so cool and moist in there. I hope Kyle is OK, and he's not freezing his butt off.

No one seemed to be around, which was good. But we still kept watching over each other's surroundings just in case. Dainu pressed his hands and his ear against the wall as if he was listening for something.

"What are you doing, Dainu?" I whispered.

Dainu signaled me to be quiet and focused on the wall. In a matter of seconds, Dainu said, "Henceforth." We followed him down as he headed south.

"Kyle is nearby," he told us.

"How do you know?" Mom said.

"I can pick up signals and sounds through the walls. They can hold many whispers from other rooms. As I listen, I located the sounds from Kyle and knew where to follow."

We ran and ran through the dark hallway until Dainu stopped us in our tracks and pushed us against the wall. We saw a guard standing by the door where Kyle was in. I thought it was going to be difficult to not get his attention to try and save Kyle. But Dainu had plenty of tricks up his sleeves.

Dainu took hold of our hands and teleported us into Kyle's room. Kyle was hunch over on a cot but jumped up in excitement when he saw us. I signaled Kyle to remain quiet so the guard outside won't hear us.

Dainu took hold of our hands again but hesitated to teleport.

"C'mon, Dainu," I whispered. "What are you waiting for? Get us out of here!"

"I had never teleported more than one person before," he said. "What if it does not work?"

"Who cares?" I said. "Just try."

It worked. We were out—well, sort of. We were somewhere on top of the roof of the base. Unfortunately, there were a couple of guards on the roof and when they noticed us, they threatened to shoot. Mom and I held each other tight. Kyle stood next to Dainu trying to be brave too. One of the guards reported on his walkie talkie to bring back up.

"GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES, ALL OF YOU!" yelled the guard, holding up his gun.

"My sincere apologies," Dainu told us. "My ability must have reversed itself from carrying all of you. Instead of teleporting away from this place, I transferred us upwards towards the very highest level of this place. I had no intentions for that to happen."

"It's OK, Dainu," said Kyle, "You couldn't handle all of us. Don't worry, we all got your back."

The two guards continued to threaten us to get down or to shoot. My mom and I slowly got down on our knees. Dainu and Kyle stood their ground.

"Stay behind me," Dainu addressed to us. Kyle got behind Dainu too and held Mom and me with his strong arms.

"WE SAID GET DOWN!" yelled the screaming guard. "YOU WANT US TO SHOOT YOU DOWN, FREAK?!"

"Seize your weapons, you do not want to underestimate my power," Dainu informed them.

"GET DOWN OR I'M REALLY GONNA SHOOT!" the screaming guard warned.

"Do as he says," Mom begged Dainu. But Dainu didn't back down.

"I will not engage in violence," Dainu said to the guards.

"WE WARNED YOU! YOUR CHANCE IS UP!"

Guns blast their raging musical bullets.